Top Methods to Export Yahoo Mail to EML – Quick Guide

Although Yahoo Mail continues to be one of the prominent email services. Exporting messages in EML format isn’t easy if you don’t know what to do.

Convert Yahoo Emails to EML Format: Benefits & Tips

While the standard reason for users to export emails is backup, enterprises and advanced users may have other priorities:

• To maintain full MIME structure and metadata for legal export, EML is considered.
• A direct mail transfer to Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and other EML-compliant clients.
• To store only important conversations in EML instead of downloading every email.
• Developers need EML files to push data into customer resource management (CRM) and analytics systems.

Furthermore, some insights that you must know of before proceeding to the methods are:

• Be cautious of POP service: POP exports your mail without original server metadata, including full headers. So stick with IMAP and get full headers.
• Check file encoding: It helps to ensure your encoding in EML uses UTF-8 in order to keep international characters in email addresses.
• Export in pieces: For large files, export in blocks of 1000-2000 emails to avoid timeout issues.
• Backup when Deleting: Make sure EML export is confirmed before you delete emails in Yahoo Mail, if you intend to clear out the mailbox.

Manual Techniques to Export Yahoo Mail to EML

Some manual methods are available via different email clients to export files and folders on Mac and Windows. All of them are explained briefly here. But you may face difficulties with some of these methods without appropriate skills. So, ensure you have a little technical knowledge. Let’s begin with the step-by-step guide to these free solutions.

Method 1: Using Thunderbird with Yahoo IMAP

Step 1: Setting up Yahoo in Thunderbird

1. Install Mozilla Thunderbird.
2. Then, add a new account using your Yahoo credentials (and enable IMAP).
3. Also, ensure you have Disabled Allow Apps that use less secure sign-in in Yahoo (Thunderbird uses OAuth for sign-in).

Step 2: Install ImportExportTools NG add-on

1. Move upto the Menu≡ → Add-ons and Themes.
2. Further, search for and install ImportExportTools NG, then restart Thunderbird.

Step 3: Save Yahoo Emails to EML

1. Now, select the Yahoo mailbox (or folder).
2. After that, right-click → ImportExportTools NG → Export All Messages in Folder → EML format.
3. Lastly, choose the location of the folder you want to save to on your computer and click Select Folder.

Alternative 1: Dragging and Dropping from Thunderbird (Win+Mac)

1. Using steps 1 and 2 above (doing the Yahoo/IMAP setup), create a Local Folder in Thunderbird.
2. Then, opt for the messages (emails) you want from Yahoo’s folder to export Yahoo Mail to EML.
3. Drag them to a folder open in Windows Files Explorer or Mac Finder and drop them.
4. Finally, Thunderbird will save them to .eml files.

Alternative 2: Using Outlook as a Bridge (For Windows)

1. First, add a Yahoo IMAP account to Microsoft Outlook.
2. Drag & drop the emails to a folder in Windows File Explorer, and Outlook will record them as .msg.
3. At last, use a free converter (for example, MSG to EML Export Tool) to batch convert them.

Method 2: Using Apple Mail (for Mac Users)

1. Foremost, add your Yahoo account to Apple Mail and make sure to use IMAP.
2. Next, allow the emails to sync to your MAC until complete.
3. In the end, select your emails → File→Save As → Raw Message Source (.eml). Tap Save.

Limitations of the Manual Process

• No bulk conversion of the entire mailbox from Yahoo to EML at once.
• The processes are lengthy and need carefulness to avoid loss.
• Possibilities that the IMAP configuration doesn’t work or is interrupted.
• No chance to move contacts and calendars instantly, too.

So, for all such scenarios, you need to have an expert tool that can streamline the process quickly and provide accurate results. To find one, look at the next section.

Export Yahoo Mail to EML: Tool-Based Solution

When you need to work with 1000s of emails or you need to filter, a professional SysInfo Yahoo Backup Tool is a safer option. This desktop tool helps export Yahoo email directly to EML without an email client being set up. You can use unique filters and keep the folder format and attachments. Moreover, you can export without multiple logins, so less chance of account lockout.

Tip: Many tools also support direct migrations, like Yahoo to Office 365. So if you plan on switching services down the road, this will be helpful (Migrate Yahoo Email to Office 365, full guide found here).

How to Automatically Export Yahoo Emails to EML?

The answer lies in the steps below and is considered best because several concerned users stated, it saves them time and effort. Also, with the demo version, they can cut costs and convert a few emails for free. Now, the steps:

1. Start the Yahoo Mail Backup Tool and under prerequisites, click Continue.
2. After that, proceed to choose Single or Batch accounts, and complete the Login.
3. Now, preview the listed folders present within the Yahoo Mail, select, and tap Next.
4. Further, opt for EML format from the list and with Destination, open the location to save.
5. Click Next and choose your filters that seem relevant to apply. Finally, press Start Process.

Conclusion

Export Yahoo Mail to EML is not only about having an offline copy. It ensures your data and metadata are preserved in a universally accepted format. Whether you decide to use Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or a dedicated export tool, the most important point is to ensure message completeness and maintain your metadata. Even with bulk export or filtered exports, a professional tool is the most effective way to export.

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About The Author:

Simran Bhatia

Simran Bhatia is a technical content writer engaged in writing clear, concise, and SEO-optimized content. With a background in computer science and a passion for writing, I thrive to deliver complex technical content in simple layman terms.